Delivery Type	Delivery length / details
Lecture	2 x 1 hour lectures per week
Seminars / Tutorials	7 x 2 hour seminars per semester

Assessment Type	Assessment length / details	Proportion
Semester Assessment	Group project Outcomes assessed: 1, 2, 3, 4	100%
Supplementary Assessment	Resubmission of group project	100%

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the module, students should able to:

1. Apply a range of academic disciplines to the analysis of a rural resource management issue;

2. Develop teamwork skills in the framework of analysis and description of a contemporary rural resource management problem;

3. Critically review the issues involved in, policy approaches appropriate to, and institutional structures governing the socio-economic and natural systems of the countryside;

4. Evaluate their own strengths and weaknesses in teamwork and participate effectively under pressure in joint problem-solving activities.

Aims

This module aims to develop research skills within the framework of group activity, providing experience of project co-ordination and management. The module is structured around a group project that aims to produce a critical report and presentation on a contemporary rural resource management issue. Although the actual topic for study will vary from year to year, the chosen topic will demand a multi-disciplinary approach that integrates students' specialist knowledge from their own course area. Examples of past topics include an assessment of the impacts of foot and mouth disease on the Welsh economy and the production of a sustainable development scheme for the Ceredigion unitary local authority area. The module begins with a series of introductory lectures that develop time management and group work skills. Students are then briefed on the topic selected for intensive study. For the remainder of the modules, students are required to work in groups of four or five members, in conjunction with a supervisor, to complete a written report. Each report is then presented in a seminar at the end of the module. Because of the focus on teamwork, a significant part of the evaluation of student performance is derived from peer-group and self-assessment methods.

Transferable skills

.1 Independent project work
As an integral part of the team project, students will be required to assign and undertake independent work on specific aspects of the group project relating to their individual areas of expertise.

.4 Writing in an academic context
Within their groups, students will be require to write a 40- 60 page report on a contemporary rural issue

.5 Oral discussion and presentation
Within their groups, students will be required to present the findings of the group project. This presentation is assessed as part of the module outcomes.

.7 Self-management
In order to complete the group project, students will be required to allocate individual tasks between group members. Once tasks have been allocated, each students will have to organise their own time in order to complete their individual tasks within the time limits set by the group. The contribution that each student makes to the group project will be peer-assessed.

.8 Group activity
One of the principal aims of this module is to develop and assess group activity. The module is structured around a group project where students are required to work in teams of 4 to 5 members. In order to successfully complete the project, each group will be required to identify and then assign tasks between group members, set milestones for completion of individual tasks and then pull individual tasks into one cohesive report. The contribution of individual students to group activity will be assessed using peer-assessment methods.

READING LIST:
The collation of reference material for the group project is very much an integral part of the module, and thus no specific reading list is provided. Pointers to key sources of information/literature, however, will be provided in the briefing papers for the group project.

Course Delivery

Assessment

Learning Outcomes

Aims

Transferable skills

Reading List

Notes